County District Attorney sues sheriff

In an unusual twist here is a story about one arm of the law suing another over a dispute about funds used in the penal system. John Tyson Jr, the Mobile County District Attorney is suing Sheriff Jack Tillman in circuit court asking for a declaration that any leftover jail food money belongs to the county, not Tillman. The District Attorney is claiming that the funds should be regarded as public money and be paid in the county general fund. The sheriff argues that state law allows him to keep jail money for himself if any is left after feeding prisoners.

The sum claimed is about $344,000 that the sheriff accumulated over the years from government allowances of $1.75 per prisoner per day. He is said to have spent about $1.45 on each prisoner's food every day and banked the rest. Tillson already faces a theft charge related to the withdrawal of $12,869 from the food account to open a personal retirement fund. Charges of violating state ethics law as well as two counts of perjury are also pending.

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